Let’s Get Smaller and Smarter!

posted on January 13, 2017

The gavel dropped opening the 2017 legislative session on Monday, with renewed optimism for government efficiency and less of a burden on taxpayers. Speaker of the HouseLinda Upmeyer told Iowa Public Radioshe would look for an opportunity to “…put more tax dollars in the taxpayers’ pockets. We should at a minimum be able to look at simplifying our tax code,” referencing an income tax system that hasn’t seen a reduction in its highest rate since 1998.

Representative Walt Rogers was excited about his catchphrase being used by many of his colleagues, saying, “Everyone is talking smaller, smarter government at the GOP breakfast this morning, yes!”

Governor Branstad echoed that smaller, smarter sentiment in his condition of the state address Tuesday and said, “We have also made the tough decisions to ensure government lives within its means like Iowa families do.”

While many elected officials have expressed a desire to shrink government and return money to the taxpayer,information from the Iowa LSAindicates the $6.921 billion in tax revenue received by the state’s general fund in fiscal year 2016 was the largest amount ever with 51.1% of the total net receipts coming from personal income taxes. As the chart below shows, general fund revenue has SKYROCKETED since the mid-1990s.

With Iowa’s political leaders voicing their desire to create a smaller, smarter government, and return dollars to the taxpayers, the new legislative sessionISthe time to make significant progress towards those goals. The Iowa Senate led the charge by filing Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1), a proposed amendment to the state’s Constitution that would limit spending to 99% of available tax revenue. While the 99% spending limit already exists in statute, this constitutional amendment would be an even stronger restraint. Havingmeaningful reduction in spending,opportunities for substantial tax cuts can occur. Iowans for Tax Reliefwill be closely following the progress of this and other important pro-taxpayer relief this year and our registered lobbyists will be working for you thetaxpayerat the state Capitol, all session long.

IOWA TAX NEWS

This week’s links of interest about tax issues in Iowa.Follow us on Facebook – @IowansforTaxRelief or Twitter – @ITRWatchdog to stay updated daily.

Just like we said in last week’s Watchdog:http://bit.ly/2inPy2D
“We’ve been warning as a caucus that the level of spending was accumulating to a point where this kind of crisis was going to occur, and we’re prepared to fix it,” Dix said. “We’re going to fix it.
QC Times – http://bit.ly/2jfgLJ9

Limit future tax and spending increases with constitutional amendments.
Iowa’s GOP lawmakers see tax policy changes a 2017 must-do. It’s been 20 years since last income tax cut – but can state afford one now?
Cedar Rapids Gazette – bit.ly/2iVuqoc